The winner of Thursday’s showdown between Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza will be No. 1 in the world next week. More importantly, one will keep alive her chance for the French Open title. Sloane Stephens and Madinson Keys will contest the other semifinal.
(1) Simona Halep vs. (3) Garbine Muguruza
Halep and Muguruza will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers when they battle for a place in the French Open final on Thursday. Muguruza leads the head-to-head series 3-1 after destroying Halep 6-1, 6-0 in the in the Cincinnati title match last summer. It was the Romanian, however, who won their only previous clay-court encounter 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 three years ago in Stuttgart.
Of the four semifinalists, two have captured at least one Grand Slam title and two are still searching for their first major triumph. Although Halep has spent by far the most weeks at No. 1 in the world of the four, she finds herself in the latter group without a slam. Is her time now? The Romanian is already a two-time runner-up at Roland Garros and she is back in another semifinal following victories over Alison Riske, Taylor Townsend, Andrea Petkovic, Elise Mertens, and Angelique Kerber. Muguruza has advanced by taking out Svetlana Kuznetsova, Fiona Ferro, Samantha Stosur, Lesia Tsurenko, and Maria Sharapova. The third-ranked Spaniard has not dropped a single set this fortnight, while Halep has surrendered just one (to Kerber in a tiebreaker). Muguruza’s best would probably beat Halep’s best, but the world No. 1 was far more consistent on clay heading into Paris and this surface gives her a good chance of withstanding Muguruza’s superior firepower.
Pick: Halep in 3
[polldaddy poll=10024614]
(13) Madison Keys vs. (10) Sloane Stephens
It will be a rematch of the 2017 all-American U.S. Open final when Stephens and Keys meet again on Thursday. Stephens improved to 2-0 lifetime in the head-to-head series when she lifted a Grand Slam winner’s trophy for the first time in her career with a 6-3, 6-0 rout at Flushing Meadows. She had previously crushed Keys 6-4, 6-2 at the 2015 Miami event. The world No. 10 has been somewhat of an all-or-nothing performer in recent seasons, frequently either going a long way or losing quite early at tournaments. The good Stephens has been on display this fortnight, with defeats of Arantxa Rus, Magdalena Frech, Camila Giorgi, Anett Kontaveit, and Daria Kasatkina.
Keys earned a spot in the last four thanks to wins at the expense of Sachia Vickery, Caroline Dolehide, Noami Osaka, Mihaela Buzarnescu, and Yulia Putintseva. The 23-year-old did not do much on clay prior to arriving in Roland Garros and she even withdrew from a scheduled Rome showdown against Kerber due to a rib injury. Although the sample size is small, Stephens appears to have her best friend on tour’s number. And the surface also does nothing to help Keys.
Pick: Stephens in 2
[polldaddy poll=10024613]
who ya got?
This is a gamble 🙂
$10K on Muguruza in 2.
Tough as nails.
U lose $10k
Forget 3 years ago. Muguruza is a genuine number 1 in the world. She’s the female version of Nadal in positive respects.
Close to Spain as well, she will red-line even harder.
Obviously she’s not. She just got crashed hard by No.1.
Yay Simona! She did it in 2 sets vs Muguruza and that’s incredible 😀
That first set Simona won 6-1 was a well planned and executed blitz of Garbine. Simona made Garbine play too many balls on each point and Garbine is used to getting it done in short points. Then when Garbine started to get control and find her serve and higher level in the 2nd set, Simona fought off break points held serve at 5-4 giving her the confidence to break Mugu’s serve one more time and get the match in 2 sets. 😀 61 64 well done Simona!
Picked Simona in 3 but…she surprised me.. Happy!! The way Garbine destroyed Maria Sharapova…I really had little hope for Simona or anyone else winning FO.
Sloane over Madison in 2, I think.
C’Mon Sim!!….U can do this!!…1st slam C’Mon!!
I’m aftaid to check the score in the 3rd… That’s how nervous I am for Simona. Can you confirm that she’s at least not losing haha?
KEV!….SHE’S DOING UNBELIEVABLE!!!WHOOOOOOO!!….Our Sim will get her 1st slam Kev!!…Insyaallah!!..Wooohooo!!
5 0 now…UNBELIEVABLE FIGHT from Sim!
I gave in and checked the score ands she’s up 4-0!! Unfortunately after last year, Simona being up 4-0 in the 3rd means nothing….
Yes Mira!! Please close it out, Simona…
The crowds chanting “Simona!Simona!Simona!”…Whoooo!…Just amazing this moment!!
30 0 on Sloane’s serve..
The crowds chanting “Simona!Simona!Simona!”…Whoooo!…Just amazing this moment!!
30 15 on Sloane’s serve..
I think Simona is winning this, finally. What doggedness, Stephens is losing steam, not able to sustain her hard hitting but easy power tennis. Simona may bagel her in the final set!
Oh no bagel, but maybe a bread stick? Come on Simona, serves it out and wins your first FO title!
Vamos Simona!!! ❤️
She did it!! Now THAT is a world # 1 RIGHT THERE!!
YEESSSS!!…SIMONA SLAM!!!WHOOOO!!!
!!!!!Simona Halep is a major champion, everyone!!!!!
Magnificent simona!!!😀
Love you!!
Yes, a slam champion finally!! Just like Wozniacki at the AO this year! So happy for both of them, they worked so hard and deserved their slam titles!
I thought she’s going to lose it when Stephens was hammering her in the first set but what a turnaround! Well done, and she did it the hard way!
Simona fought like a tiger in the end!
What a champion!
She will win more slams now!!
Congratulations to Simona for finally getting it done!
Yes!!!!
So happy for her!
😍
Congratulations dearest rc!!!
So very very happy for you!!
Thanks amy!!!
Many times I didn’t believe she could do it. I was out all morning but I saw the score…I’m so happy and relieved for her!! Oh god, thank you. Hugs to everyone LOL
I’m just sitting down to enjoy this match now 😀 😀 SIMONA! Yay!!